DLX Shapes

[Obijuan91]

Is it just me or is the 8.28 shape starting to get hard to find?

[Lou Strux]

Is it just me or is the 8.28 shape starting to get hard to find?

Depending on your locale, it can be quite easy.
Here in the states, I was able to find 95 DLX brand 8.28s by using good ol’ shoplurker.com

Here’s a quickie for ya…
https://shoplurker.com/search?region=usa&page=1&lat=&lon=&sort=default&search=8.28

[Obijuan91]

Expand Quote

Is it just me or is the 8.28 shape starting to get hard to find?

[close]

Depending on your locale, it can be quite easy.
Here in the states, I was able to find 95 DLX brand 8.28s by using good ol’ shoplurker.com

Here’s a quickie for ya…
https://shoplurker.com/search?region=usa&page=1&lat=&lon=&sort=default&search=8.28

Nice, thanks for that. Pretty convinient

[DarkPools]

I'm skating the 8.5" x 32.18" x 14.38" shape right now! I'm enjoying it!!
It's a Tom Knox Krooked. Definitely somewhere between mellow and steep. Only gets better once broken in.

 I'll come back and post my photos of my board skated & side rail view later! I don't recall what press in the stack it was but I think it was III, as it doesn't feel super concavey or steep. Kinda looks pointy nose in this pic but doesn't feel it while riding.

Skated mine for almost 6 weeks and it's only gotten better before I move on to a different board!  The 14.38 WB makes tres/bigspins still feel very manageable, even at the 32.18 length. The tail/nose both have an ever so slight taper from the deck rails but you don't feel it much while skating. Shape feels somewhere between super pointy and super blunted.

I had trouble with it at first though. Couldn't get my timing/pop right, but once I did, I loved it! An excellent shape that's longer/more stable than the blue eagle shape, but more nimble than a Black Label 8.5x14.5x32.25.

For anyone curious about this shape since it does feel less common, if you're 5'8" + I'd recommend it!

[TMX]

I set-up, but have not had a chance to skate a Real Hermann Stene True Fit
Wanted the shorter WB on the 8.5, well the wheelbase is short, but as has been discussed, the 8.5 is only 8.25.

Not a deal breaker, but had actually ordered a set of 8.75 Slappys, so had to pivot and get a set of 8.5s

TMX

[franc]

Skated loads of 8.5s (the Blue Eagle shape, you know) these past couple years, all stamp III or IV, just set up a stamp I and it feels so alien to me. I'm ghost-popping everything. Is it gonna get flatter or am I gonna have to get used to it? Thanks.

[Sedition]

Skated loads of 8.5s (the Blue Eagle shape, you know) these past couple years, all stamp III or IV, just set up a stamp I and it feels so alien to me. I'm ghost-popping everything. Is it gonna get flatter or am I gonna have to get used to it? Thanks.

Bad news.  You either have to get used to it, or park your car on it (and that comes with its own complications) to flatten it a bit.

[franc]

Damn. Hopefully I'll get used to it.

[Mbrimson88]

Damn. Hopefully I'll get used to it.

Yeah, pretty crazy how much a couple of degrees difference in the kicks can make a board work so well, or make it feel so off, but I do recall any number of people who have had to change up something like that, self included, things just felt wrong at first, but I did get used to it and boards do flex out a fair bit depending on how heavy you land things too.

I had often done a number of ollies on the spot, just pop and bone it out so I am landing on the front of the board repeatedly, not super heavy but heavy enough to flex a board a bit, then did the same switch so I am landing the back foot on the tail down first, so I could have both ends feeling a little more comfortable and that worked well enough, but I had done it before enough times to know how heavy to land, more so than stomping it and cracking it.


The driving over the deck does work well enough too, don't need to park on it, just slowly drive over it, graphic side up, usually with something softer under it, especially if you have already gripped it, to stop the grip going weird on the ends of the kicks.  Done that a lot with boards I thought I could skate, but were just too steep, which were just enough to make them work.  After driving over it, leave it for a bit before setting it back up - it might look stupidly flat at that point, but it usually comes back to almost where it was within 24 hours.  That is better than parking on it for too long, which can definitely flatten it out too much, as I have done in the past.

[GoneWithTheSchwinn]

It's those little things that can make the difference. It's weird to think that a millimeter or two can change your pop or the kick of the tail being higher or lower affects things. But it all counts. Went from a PS board to the 8.38 Huf cathedral and the change in pop is very noticeable.

[munchbox]

i know there is no correct answer for everyone but…

what press number would you go for
if you are trying out a new shape?
a two or a three seems like it would make sense

and for the real sickos
did you try every mold to find your favorite?

[Sedition]

i know there is no correct answer for everyone but…

what press number would you go for
if you are trying out a new shape?
a two or a three seems like it would make sense

and for the real sickos
did you try every mold to find your favorite?

I only ride IV stamp DLX decks, hard stop.

[Mbrimson88]

i know there is no correct answer for everyone but…

what press number would you go for
if you are trying out a new shape?
a two or a three seems like it would make sense

and for the real sickos
did you try every mold to find your favorite?

I have ended up with every number in a few sizes, but I have definitely had more than a few of each stamp in the 8.38 shape, with varying degrees of comfort.

Besides the fact that I have had I stamps, more than one, all with teal tops, that were more mellow than any IV stamp, or that some just seem to be so flat they initially seem like they might be too flat, but were ok, most of the I, II, III and IV stamp boards have fit fairly well into the general mold of I being steepest and IV being flattest, in overall comparison.

More than anything I think it just comes down to what you prefer, as some people do prefer the more mellow boards and others prefer the steeper boards, so it just sucks when I hear people on here say their board is too this or that.  In person it is a lot easier to sort out, as I have swapped out boards from people in the past to something they prefer, but that is another story.

The 8.25 board has always seemed to be steeper in any case, compared to the 8.38 board, with the blue eagle 8.5 being almost in between those two on average, even though I think it was said by someone in the know that they are all made on the same presses.


The Anchor shape 9.02" board I got in a IV and it is very easy to skate.  One orange eagle 9 x 33" I set up is a I stamp and it skates fine too, whereas a few other shapes including a Beach Bummer 10", a Horse Pill 10" deck and a couple of others I got are also a I and they are a bit too up there in concave for my liking.

I put it down to the shorter boards that are steeper are harder for me to get used to, whereas a longer wheelbase board is easier to get used to in a steeper mold, or at least that seems to be the case for me.  I would say that the longer wheelbase boards are made in the bigger mold, so it is not just how the board is cut, but the fact that it is a bigger mold that makes it work more for me.


*  Sorry that might be a bit too long for a simple reply.

[Sedition]

I put it down to the shorter boards that are steeper are harder for me to get used to, whereas a longer wheelbase board is easier to get used to in a steeper mold, or at least that seems to be the case for me.  I would say that the longer wheelbase boards are made in the bigger mold, so it is not just how the board is cut, but the fact that it is a bigger mold that makes it work more for me.

I, also, found this to be true. For awhile I was riding a bunch of the 8.75/14.62s, and they seemed to be far more "fluid" for me (in terms of 'acceptable' concave/kicks) than the 8.25's did.

[Esmith5488]

Expand Quote

i know there is no correct answer for everyone but…

what press number would you go for
if you are trying out a new shape?
a two or a three seems like it would make sense

and for the real sickos
did you try every mold to find your favorite?

[close]

I only ride IV stamp DLX decks, hard stop.

Anything else is borderline unskateable for me

[Mbrimson88]

Expand Quote

I put it down to the shorter boards that are steeper are harder for me to get used to, whereas a longer wheelbase board is easier to get used to in a steeper mold, or at least that seems to be the case for me.  I would say that the longer wheelbase boards are made in the bigger mold, so it is not just how the board is cut, but the fact that it is a bigger mold that makes it work more for me.

[close]

I, also, found this to be true. For awhile I was riding a bunch of the 8.75/14.62s, and they seemed to be far more "fluid" for me (in terms of 'acceptable' concave/kicks) than the 8.25's did.

Ha yeah, it is a funny one.

Almost unrelated to the current overall discussion, but more related to this particular topic, but I had a stand on a Tru Fit board not too long ago and I am very glad I didn't get any of those for myself to try as they are way too short and steep for my liking, even in the 8.38 with 14" wb option, which I was going to get one to try.

I much prefer a longer middle flat area mold for most boards, I think, over a shorter mold that sometimes the kicks eat into the truck mounting areas, as per a few boards I have had over the years and wondered why they just didn't work at all.  Some of those I have drilled in and they work great now, but others were just passed on to someone else who didn't mind so much.


* Most recent was the 9 x 33 with 15 wb from the other woodshop, which seemed to only have the one length of mold, which worked great on smaller wheelbase boards, but not on anything with a longer wheelbase.  I drilled both Indy baseplates in like the V8 option and that board skates way better now at 14.5 wb, but the kicks are so very long.

[franc]

Expand Quote

Skated loads of 8.5s (the Blue Eagle shape, you know) these past couple years, all stamp III or IV, just set up a stamp I and it feels so alien to me. I'm ghost-popping everything. Is it gonna get flatter or am I gonna have to get used to it? Thanks.

[close]

Bad news.  You either have to get used to it, or park your car on it (and that comes with its own complications) to flatten it a bit.

Never really got used to it, I still ghost pop my ollies into nosewheelies and crooked grinds which feels so gross. Stamp I, never again, thanks.

[Skate34860]

You guys have a few unicorns:

8.43x32.57 14.75/15" WB - great shape but always hard to find
(the 8.38x35.56 could stand to use the same WB instead of being shorter)

8.18"x31.84" so few models use this, one of my favs if not THE favorite shape.

8.28x (love this width but the lengths are either short with 14"WB or 32" (never seen a 32" it's in the new AH drop)

I'd love to see some 8.2/8.28"x31.5/31.75 with 14.25/.35 WBs

Going to agree on the 8.18x31.75! Would like to see a better selection of these.

[Sedition]

Expand Quote

You guys have a few unicorns:

8.43x32.57 14.75/15" WB - great shape but always hard to find
(the 8.38x35.56 could stand to use the same WB instead of being shorter)

8.18"x31.84" so few models use this, one of my favs if not THE favorite shape.

8.28x (love this width but the lengths are either short with 14"WB or 32" (never seen a 32" it's in the new AH drop)

I'd love to see some 8.2/8.28"x31.5/31.75 with 14.25/.35 WBs

[close]

Going to agree on the 8.18x31.75! Would like to see a better selection of these.

The post you quoted is nearly 11 years old.

[Skate34860]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

You guys have a few unicorns:

8.43x32.57 14.75/15" WB - great shape but always hard to find
(the 8.38x35.56 could stand to use the same WB instead of being shorter)

8.18"x31.84" so few models use this, one of my favs if not THE favorite shape.

8.28x (love this width but the lengths are either short with 14"WB or 32" (never seen a 32" it's in the new AH drop)

I'd love to see some 8.2/8.28"x31.5/31.75 with 14.25/.35 WBs

[close]

Going to agree on the 8.18x31.75! Would like to see a better selection of these.

[close]

The post you quoted is nearly 11 years old.

I keep doing that. I’m new to the forum. It popped up on the recents so I clicked didn’t even bother checking the original post sate. I’ve done this on a few other posts too should’ve known better.

[DarkPools]

i know there is no correct answer for everyone but…

what press number would you go for
if you are trying out a new shape?
a two or a three seems like it would make sense

and for the real sickos
did you try every mold to find your favorite?

I'll skate I - IV and as long as it's the shape/size I like. The steepness  (or mellowness) isn't a deal breaker to me if I can't pick which press #

II & III are my favorites

I just set up a IV Praman 8.5x32.18x14.38 and it's noticeably mellower than what I'm used to/prefer. Haven't had a IV stamp in a while, so this reminded me I enjoy II, III, I, IV in that order.

The IV stamp kinda feels like a DLX deck that's been skated for 2 weeks & is in that sweet spot, but brand new. The I is almost too steep, BUT breaks in so nicely so you can skate the deck longer

[Sedition]

Sorry, all. I know this has been asked/answered many times...

Are the Easy Riders also pressed in the I-IV format, or are the single press? If single, what are the Easy Rider kicks comparable to via the usual I-iV scale?

@Mbrimson88, I know you have answers.

Thanks in advance!

[Mbrimson88]

Sorry, all. I know this has been asked/answered many times...

Are the Easy Riders also pressed in the I-IV format, or are the single press? If single, what are the Easy Rider kicks comparable to via the usual I-iV scale?

@Mbrimson88, I know you have answers.

Thanks in advance!

Yes, I stood on a I and a IV stamp 8.38 Easy Rider when I had a chance.  I think they would be fairly similar to every other option in my usual 8.38 boards, so I guess from that they are comparable.

The Easy Rider mold is a twin shape, so same nose and tail angles, not steeper nose as per usual BBS molds, then the rail edge is a little more mellow, so it doesn't come up quite as much, but it is still there, not flat through the side to side concave as I was first thinking they were going to be.

Overall I think for people who like a more mellow shape, they would be pretty good, but I have a lot of the regular 8.38 boards still to get through, so I passed on getting one, even for show and tell.

[The Huffer]

Some interesting new shapes coming this year. Some one off tanks from Antihero and yet another 8.6 variation....

[Sedition]

Some interesting new shapes coming this year. Some one off tanks from Antihero and yet another 8.6 variation....

-The "pig roast" graphics are great.

-8.75/14.62 DBX (Surprised the 8.62 got DBX'd before the 8.75)

-Heavyweight construction? Haven't seen that in awhile. What did they call the last iteration of those (I can't remember)?

-The 8.6 variants are weird. I've never understood the 8.5/14.5 blind spot DLX seems to have, or a proper 8.25/14.25 for that matter, too.

Another question for @Mbrimson88 (or anyone who knows): The 8.38/14.5 and the Cardial 8.62/14.5 are both listed as 32.25. Assuming they actually have the same overall length/wheelbase, are the kicks also the same size?

[Murge]

Expand Quote

I'm skating the 8.5" x 32.18" x 14.38" shape right now! I'm enjoying it!!
It's a Tom Knox Krooked. Definitely somewhere between mellow and steep. Only gets better once broken in.

 I'll come back and post my photos of my board skated & side rail view later! I don't recall what press in the stack it was but I think it was III, as it doesn't feel super concavey or steep. Kinda looks pointy nose in this pic but doesn't feel it while riding.

[close]

Skated mine for almost 6 weeks and it's only gotten better before I move on to a different board!  The 14.38 WB makes tres/bigspins still feel very manageable, even at the 32.18 length. The tail/nose both have an ever so slight taper from the deck rails but you don't feel it much while skating. Shape feels somewhere between super pointy and super blunted.

I had trouble with it at first though. Couldn't get my timing/pop right, but once I did, I loved it! An excellent shape that's longer/more stable than the blue eagle shape, but more nimble than a Black Label 8.5x14.5x32.25.

For anyone curious about this shape since it does feel less common, if you're 5'8" + I'd recommend it!

The next deck I have is an AH 8.5x14.38 I bought it when I was skating aces. Then threw old ventures on and been happy. I noticed Indy’s on both yalls. Have you skated this shape with venture or thunders?

[DirtCat]

-8.75/14.62 DBX

Oh hell yeah, setting aside some bucks for this

[Mbrimson88]

Expand Quote

Some interesting new shapes coming this year. Some one off tanks from Antihero and yet another 8.6 variation....

[close]

-The "pig roast" graphics are great.

-8.75/14.62 DBX (Surprised the 8.62 got DBX'd before the 8.75)

-Heavyweight construction? Haven't seen that in awhile. What did they call the last iteration of those (I can't remember)?

-The 8.6 variants are weird. I've never understood the 8.5/14.5 blind spot DLX seems to have, or a proper 8.25/14.25 for that matter, too.

Another question for @Mbrimson88 (or anyone who knows): The 8.38/14.5 and the Cardial 8.62/14.5 are both listed as 32.25. Assuming they actually have the same overall length/wheelbase, are the kicks also the same size?

I have in my hands now the two boards, but bear in mind the 8.62 Cardiel is China wood, the 8.38 green eagle is BBS.

The 8.62 Cardiel is the same wheelbase, slightly longer tail and maybe about the same nose than the green eagle and slightly longer overall than the 8.38 shape, but a little more round overall too, not just the width difference, as the 8.38 is quite pointy while the 8.62 is more normal or classic round, without being blunt or full shaped.

It has been noted by Frank previously that his version of the Cardiel was actually 14.6 wb on BBS wood, whereas this China version (third different board of this shape I have had) is 14.5 wb.  It had been listed as both 14.5 on the catalog and 14.6 on the sticker, which has caused a bit of confusion, but I think that is fairly easy to sort out - not a huge difference.


Heavyweight were the same name, just with the lady scales of justice graphic or something like that, back when they first came out, I think.

*Edit - found a link to them from 2017:

https://www.weartested.com/real-skateboards-heavyweights-review/


Re different shaped DBX boards, I think that might have been because they wanted to see if the longer board worked on DBX  and I guess that was correct, if there are other shapes coming out now too.


Re different sizes, like 8.6 - the funny thing is a lot of people like the 8.6 shape maybe the width is not quite as wide as 8.75 and some people ride the 159s on it easily, as per the one I have set up with 56 mm Classics, but it is a totally different board overall to my usual DLX 8.75 with big wide wheels and slightly drilled in baseplates to make it more like 14.5 or even 14.4 wb, which is a good all rounder.  Left as is for the T-II 151 trucks as they bring the wb in just the right amount.

I guess that is the difference too between having a longer wb / longer overall board on the 8.62 x 14.75 and a slightly shorter wb option on a wide board on the 8.75 x 14.62 board.

[skatebruh]

Is it just me or is the 8.28 shape starting to get hard to find?

I see 8.28s a lot more often in the catalogs compared to 5 years ago but they sell out. I have to watch my local shop’s Instagram page for a DLX restock if I want an 8.28.

[Mbrimson88]

.

I just got the first China wood 8.5 x 14.25 wb (blue eagle shape) and the width is a true 8.5 at the shoulder, so they are wider than the BBS versions, which are just under 8.5 at the widest point.

They both still taper the same and both are still the same everything else, eg 31.8 long and 14.25 wb, but between a few of the China wood 8.5 and a few of the BBS 8.5 boards, the China boards sit out a bit more on all of them compared to the BBS when I alternately stack them and put them all side on.

Not a big deal any which way, but if someone is more keen on an actual 8.5 width, the new China wood versions are just that.


As has been said other noted differences in shapes include:

8.25 x 32 with 14.38 wb - China wood are exactly 8.25 wide, not 8.3 as per BBS wood.

8.38 x 32.2 with 14.5 wb - China wood are 8.3 more so than the BBS which are more like 8.45.


I still haven't seen a BBS version of the Cardiel 8.6 shape, but I don't think I am likely to these days with almost everything we get coming from China, but that would be a good one to be able to check and compare, as per post above.